Worship

“Every Victory” by The Belonging Co featuring Danny Gokey

Scripture

“The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, ‘You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.’” -Judges 13:3-5

“The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.” -Judges 13:24-25

“The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done.” -Judges 14:6

“As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.” -Judges 15:14-15

“One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.” -Judges 16:1

“Sometime later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.” -Judges 16:4

“Then she said to him, ‘How can you say, “I love you,” when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.’ With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it. So he told her everything. ‘No razor has ever been used on my head,’ he said, ‘because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.’” -Judges 16:15-17

The Challenge of Focus Today

I wanted to give you an overview of the story of Samson, from his birth and calling to his distraction and demise. You can read about him in his entirety from Judges 13-16. Here stands a man called from birth unto righteousness and victory, but somewhere along the way he got distracted.

I was sitting with a girlfriend yesterday and just sharing my heart with her as I feel like I have battled distraction in my intimacy with Jesus these past few weeks. She said that she had too and that it was actually something so spiritual over the Body of Christ right now. We prayed together, and I felt unburdened and untangled. Oh, the love and prayer of sisters! So as I was praying about this devotional, I sensed the Holy Spirit wanting me to address this for so many of us right now.

Distraction needs to bow to the victory of Jesus!

God’s Faithfulness Despite Our Failures

Here was a man of God whose days had been ordained before the foundations of the world. Samson was called for a specific time to address the oppression of the enemy coming against the people of God—for such a time as this. He was stirred up and empowered by the Spirit of God. He defeated the enemy by the power of God on display through his life. The enemy was pushed back, and the people of God experienced victory. Samson carried out great exploits that God had planned for his life. And even when he cried out in distress because of his thirst, the Lord caused water to burst forth from a “hollow place (Judges 15:18-19).” Does that sound like your story?

At some point in the journey, Samson gave way to temptation, and his flesh took the driver’s seat. Perhaps he forgot about the wondrous power he had manifested with the Lord or the way God had showed Himself faithful. But all of a sudden, the harlot was what Samson thought he needed. I think I could accurately say that this opened the door for Samson’s final chapters. Interestingly enough, he kept the Nazarite vow (he certainly didn’t want to lose his gift). But did he lose his gaze on the Lord? Something caught his attention and captured his flesh. Distraction gave way to sin.

“Samson did what we nearly all do when deceived by sin. He put his life into categories, and figured that some categories God cared about, and some categories God did not care about. Understanding that Jesus has claim over our entire life is a radical change of perspective.” -David Guzik, Judges 16 commentary

I love that God’s gifts to us are irrevocable. His grace is beyond our comprehension. Samson had free will, but God never turned His back on Samson. God didn’t expect Samson to get it all together before he could continue to partner with Him to bring the Lord’s purposes to Earth. God made a way in spite of Samson’s sin, not giving him what one could think he would deserve. Such mercy.

The gate to the spiritual enemy of Samson’s life now stood wide open. And in walks a woman named Delilah. She was attractive, had a love for money, was an artist in the trade of manipulation, and had mastered the skill of nagging. Somehow, Samson lost his ever-loving mind—even after she proved herself deceptive over and over—and shared the secret of his strength. She betrayed him. He lost vision both in the natural and for what God could continue to do through his surrender and intimacy and partnership, and Samson became a slave. This ungodly union with this wayward woman literally took Samson down. Distraction led to isolation, and it would seem the enemy had won.

As you get to the end of the story, Samson’s hair grows back and his strength returns. He lost his eyes and his ability to war from a place of vision. But God gave him the final say over his enemy, and as Samson took his final breath, so did thousands of the Philistine army. God always has the final say.

Learning from Samson’s Example

We war and we worship from a place of victory! The enemy is going to throw anything and everything at you to distract you from intimacy with Jesus. It can be the lure of the world, relationships, busyness, wealth, poverty, ministry, apathy, or even spiritual warfare, to name just a few. We have to see it for what it is, call it out, and pray it off. We cannot afford to be distracted in this hour. It’s imperative to have eyes on Jesus and run unentangled.

“The hour is too late for another denomination to be born. Right now, God is preparing His Elijahs for the last great earthly offensive against militant godlessness (whether political or wearing a mask of religion) The last great outpouring of revival, Holy Ghost born and operated, will be new wine bursting the skins of dried-up sectarianism. Hallelujah!” -Leonard Ravenhill, “Why Revival Tarries”

I love these words by Erwin McManus from one of my favorite books, “Barbarian Way”:

“Although the force of one person fully committed to God is tremendous, it pales in comparison to the force of God’s people moving together. One barbarian wandering through civilization can be discarded as nothing more than an oddity. But when members of the barbarian tribe line up across the battlefield, side by side, something amazing begins to happen. Dark kingdoms tremble; the dungeons and prisons that hold men, women, and children captive crumble; prison doors open; chains unlock; and multitudes come to freedom. Whenever the barbarians of Christ pass through civilization, the oppressed and forgotten are soon found dancing the streets.”

Samson was a man of God who got easily distracted and lost his way. God was faithful to him until the very end, but I wonder what the story would have looked like if he had stayed on course, walking in righteousness and the power of the Spirit. We can’t afford to have this be part of our story. It’s time for the spirit of distraction to be bound and gagged; it’s time for it to go! If this is you, will you grab a friend and have her pray for you, for your freedom and deliverance? Just like my girlfriend prayed for me, I can testify that prayer changes everything! It’s time to get back on the saddle if you’ve fallen off; take a deep plunge into grace, and come back to the Lover of your soul!

Prayer for Renewed Focus

Father I pray for your daughters. Would you fight for their pinpoint focus on You and only You? Would you solidify their conviction that You are enough? Would you turn their eyes to Jesus and take off the rope tied around their ankles? I pray for freedom and deliverance for all of us in this hour, from a spirit of distraction set against your people. Help us to get to even greater surrender and declaration that “For to me, to live is Christ … (Philippians 1:21).” Take the mustard seed of our faith and fuel it with trust and contentment. May the fire of God burn in us, your army of revivalists arising in this hour! In the powerful name of Jesus, AMEN!

A Few Key Notes

• Join Arise for a night of worship and prayer this summer! Worship will be led by Jourdan Gaudet, Lizzy King, and Julie King. Email me at [email protected] for details.

Dates: July 13 and August 10

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Lewisville, Texas

• Arise is looking for Spanish speakers to join us for an upcoming short-term mission team. Join us in sharing the love of Jesus with those in Europe!

Europe team

October 13-23: RSVP by emailing Alli Despres at [email protected].

• Join us July 10 as we share the love of Jesus with others in Waco, Texas, for Harvest Day! You can RSVP by emailing Kristin Hill at [email protected].
• For those in the Virginia and Washington, D.C. area, join us June 30 for an Arise luncheon. Email Lee Self at [email protected] for more information and to RSVP.